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Fear
by Roald DahlPERFECT for fans of Roald Dahl.Think you know Dahl? Think again. Discover a collection of deliciously dark ghost stories for adults, picked by Dahl himself . . . Do you enjoy being scared? Featuring fourteen classic spine-chilling stories chosen by Roald Dahl, these terrible tales of ghostly goings-on will have you shivering with fear as you turn the pages.They include such timeless and haunting stories as Sheridan Le Fanu's The Ghost of a Hand, Edith Wharton's Afterward, Cynthia Asquith's The Corner Shop and Mary Treadgold's The Telephone. Featuring extraordinary cover art by Charming Baker, whose paintings echo the dark and twisted world of Dahl's short stories. Roald Dahl reveals even more about the darker side of human nature in seven other centenary editions featuring his own stories: Lust, Madness, Cruelty, Deception, Trickery, Innocence and War.
The Alphabet Sisters: A Novel (Pink Popular Penguins Ser.)
by Monica McInerneyA glorious, uplifting story about the joys and heartbreaks of sisterhood, from the Number One bestseller'I've got something very important I want the three of you to do for me.'Once as close-knit as sisters can be, Anna, Bett and Carrie haven't spoken in three years. They are still feeling the effects of the fight which tore them apart - but a summons to their grandmother's birthday party forces them out of their silence. Lola, the big-hearted, strong-willed grandmother who first nicknamed them the Alphabet Sisters, has a plan to reunite them. And while none of the women is eager to confront the past, each has a new reason to long for their sisters' support.But just as they find their way back to one another, the sisters are rocked by a greater challenge than ever before - one that will teach them the true value of family . . .'You'll be laughing out loud one minute and crying the next' Cosmopolitan *Don't miss the next Quinlan family stories - Lola's Secret and The Trip of a Lifetime are available now!*
Return of the Magi: A heartwarming Christmas story
by P. J. TracyWarm your heart this Christmas with this wonderful festive tale from bestselling author P.J. Tracy - perfect for fans of It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street.Emil Rice has a silver tongue and sticky fingers, the only problem is that his charm always gets him into trouble and he's never been very good at not getting arrested. Twenty-two times he's been caught and twenty-two times he's sworn never to steal again, but it's on his twenty-third arrest when Emil realises he may have picked up more than he bargained for. Sentenced to community service at a secure mental health facility, Emil is unwillingly befriended by two elderly female patients who believe he is the final part of a big cosmic plan that will change their lives forever... This heartwarming Christmas tale of kindness, friendship and redemption will be perfect for the cold winter nights!
Comic Performativities: Identity, Internet Outrage, And The Aesthetics Of Communication (PDF)
by Dustin GoltzComic Performativities: Identity, Internet Outrage, and the Aesthetics of Communication studies patterns of criticism and public debate in the relationship between humour, identity, and offense. In an increasingly reductive and politically charged debate, right-wing pundits argue leftist politics has compromised a free and open discussion, while scholars take right-wing critics to task for reifying systems of oppression under the guise of reason and respect. In response, Goltz scrutinises twenty-first century "comedic controversies," the notion of "political correctness," and the so-called "outrage machine" of social media. How should we appropriately determine whether a joke is "sexist," "racist," or "offensive"? Informed by communication, performance, and critical identity theory, Goltz examines infamous controversies involving performers like Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer, and Seth MacFarlane, and the social media backlash that redefined these events. He investigates the ironic interplay between spoken word, identity, physicality and, as a result, the contrasting meanings potentially construed. Consequently, the book encourages a greater appreciation of the aesthetics involved in comedic performance that help signpost interpretation and emphasizes the role of the audience as self-reflexive and self-aware. This book highlights the significant parallels between the nature of performance art and comedic performance in order to elevate analysis of, and discussion around, contemporary comedy. In doing so, it is an important critical contribution to the field of performance studies and cultural criticism, as well as communication studies, at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Comic Performativities: Identity, Internet Outrage, And The Aesthetics Of Communication
by Dustin GoltzComic Performativities: Identity, Internet Outrage, and the Aesthetics of Communication studies patterns of criticism and public debate in the relationship between humour, identity, and offense. In an increasingly reductive and politically charged debate, right-wing pundits argue leftist politics has compromised a free and open discussion, while scholars take right-wing critics to task for reifying systems of oppression under the guise of reason and respect. In response, Goltz scrutinises twenty-first century "comedic controversies," the notion of "political correctness," and the so-called "outrage machine" of social media. How should we appropriately determine whether a joke is "sexist," "racist," or "offensive"? Informed by communication, performance, and critical identity theory, Goltz examines infamous controversies involving performers like Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer, and Seth MacFarlane, and the social media backlash that redefined these events. He investigates the ironic interplay between spoken word, identity, physicality and, as a result, the contrasting meanings potentially construed. Consequently, the book encourages a greater appreciation of the aesthetics involved in comedic performance that help signpost interpretation and emphasizes the role of the audience as self-reflexive and self-aware. This book highlights the significant parallels between the nature of performance art and comedic performance in order to elevate analysis of, and discussion around, contemporary comedy. In doing so, it is an important critical contribution to the field of performance studies and cultural criticism, as well as communication studies, at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level.
FREE first chapter: Some Kind of Wonderful
by Giovanna FletcherIn losing him can she rediscover herself? Giovanna Fletcher's magical new novel is out now - and you can download the first chapter for FREE!'A fun read with a big dose of girl power' Sun 'A MUST-READ. Funny, heartwarming' Closer___________When the love of your life says you're not The One, who are you?Lizzy and Ian have been a couple since the first week of university. Now, after celebrating a decade together, everyone thinks they're about to get engaged.Instead, a romantic escape to Dubai leaves Lizzy with no ring, no fiancé and no future.Lizzy is heartbroken - but through the tears, she sees an opportunity. This is her moment to discover what she's been missing while playing Ian's ideal 'better half'.But how much has Ian changed her, and who should she be without him?Determined to discover who she is at heart, Lizzy sets out to rediscover the girl she was before - and, in the meantime, have a little fun . . .'Warm hearted, with a heroine to cheer for' Sunday Mirror'Full of spirit and fun' Sunday Express'Her funniest, freshest and BEST yet' Isabelle Broom, Heat
Walker's Manly Exercises: Containing Rowing, Sailing, Riding, Driving, Racing, Hunting, Shooting And Other Manly Sports ... - Primary Source Edition
by Donald WalkerFor gentlemen leading sedentary lives, Donald Walker has just the pep talk you need.If you haven't yet discovered the vast array of benefits that arise from physical exertion, then let Walker be your guide. As well as helping to prolong life and improve its happiness, active exercises can help you to achieve a beauty of form, elegant air and graceful manners.Through a combination of manly exercises such as leaping, skating and climbing trees, you can acquire the physique you desire and become the envy of all gentlemen.Tips include:· The correct way to walk at different paces - slow, moderate and quick· The best liquids to consume - primarily cold beer and cider · Permitted vegetable matter - including biscuits and stale bread Lavishly illustrated throughout, this Victorian guide has been brought back to life so that modern gents can exercise the manly way.
A Man In Full
by Tom WolfeA dissection of greed-obsessed America a decade after The Bonfire of the Vanities and on the cusp of the millennium, from the master chronicler of American culture Tom WolfeCharlie Croker, once a fabled college football star, is now a late-middle-aged Atlanta real estate entrepreneur-turned conglomerate king. His expansionist ambitions and outsize ego have at last hit up against reality. Charlie has a 28,000 acre quail shooting plantation, a young and demanding second wife and a half-empty downtown tower with a staggering load of debt. Wolfe shows us contemporary America with all the verve, wit, and insight that have made him our most admired novelist.‘Enthralling enough even to satisfy The Bonfire of the Vanities devotees...humane and redemptive’ – Sunday Times
Lucky Break
by Rob StevensLeon’s twin, Lenny, had the best imagination in the world. He could do a back flip from a standing start and tell rude jokes nonstop for hours. But a year ago Lenny died, and Leon's family hasn't been the same since.When a new boy, Arnold, starts at Leon's school, he has no idea what to think: Arnold doesn’t understand jokes, sarcasm is lost on him and he can be completely blunt. Leon has never met anyone like Arnold before, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. Before long things start to get seriously bonkers, and the two boys are breaking windows, accidentally holding up a bank and getting arrested after a disagreement with a baguette. But amidst all this madness, can Awkward Arnold actually help Leon to sort his life out?
My Teenage Diary: Adolescent Musings from the Hit BBC Radio 4 Series
by Harriet JaineEver wanted to pick the lock of a celebrity’s teenage diary?My Teenage Diary is a Radio 4 comedy show hosted by Rufus Hound featuring celebrities reading and discussing extracts from their teenage diaries. Collected together for the first time, these tear-stained, lipstick-smudged, adolescent ramblings form the backbone of this book, edited by series producer, Harriet Jaine. Featuring diary extracts from Terry Wogan, Alex Horne, Robert Peston, Rachel Johnson, Meera Syal, Sheila Hancock, Robert Webb and many more, these diaries give us a wealth of brilliant material - from the funny and ridiculous, via the poignant, pretentious and philosophical, down to the extremely embarrassing.
Treasure Hunters: Quest For The City Of Gold (Treasure Hunters #5)
by James PattersonThe Kidd family discovers an ancient map to the lost Incan City of Paititi. But when the map is stolen, the Kidds have to rely on Storm's picture-perfect memory to navigate the dangerous Amazon jungle – until she's kidnapped! To save Storm, the Kidds must locate the fabled city ... before the bad guys find it first.The race is on!
The Illustrated History of Football: Hall of Fame
by David Squires‘A fresh look at the beautiful game’ - NMEWelcome back to the inimitable work of illustrator David Squires.Most football fans can only dream of pulling on the shirt of their favourite team and running out in front of thousands of adoring fans. Pitch invaders aside, few of us get to experience that adrenalin rush. Of those who do make it as a professional footballer, even fewer realise the giddy heights of success. In the Illustrated History of Football: Hall of Fame, cartoonist David Squires returns to celebrate those who straddle the game like giants; those talented, determined souls who were juggling tennis balls in the back streets before they could talk. There’s more than one way to attain football immortality though, and Squires also turns his comic eye to the mavericks, the pioneers, the forgotten legends and the anti-heroes. From Pele to Meazza, Maradona to Socrates, you will be taken on an unforgettable journey through the good, the bad and the Hagi.
Walker's Exercises for Ladies
by Donald WalkerFor ladies leading sedentary lives, Donald Walker has just the pep talk you need.If you haven't yet discovered the vast array of benefits that arise from physical exertion, then let Walker be your guide. As well as helping to prolong life and improve its happiness, active exercises can help you to achieve a beauty of form, elegant air and graceful manners.Through a combination of ladylike exercises such as dancing and dumb-bells, you can become the envy of all ladies.Tips include:- The posture and deportment that will enhance beauty- The correct manner of curtsy and what to do with one's hands when in company- Dangerous activities to avoid, from badminton to billiardsLavishly illustrated throughout, this guide has been brought back to life so that modern ladies can exercise the Victorian way.
Jacky Ha-Ha: (Jacky Ha-Ha 2) (Jacky Ha-Ha Series #2)
by James PattersonJacky Hart has found a hidden talent in the performing arts, and she's a triple threat onstage! She wants nothing more than to act and sing all summer – but her parents have other plans for her. Jacky reluctantly signs up for a summer job in her resort town of Seaside Heights, New Jersey, where tourists come to enjoy the beach and fun carnival atmosphere. Now she has serious responsibilities like her job and babysitting her younger sisters, but Jacky longs to perform in the summer stock performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Can she handle all of her important commitments and still have fun with her friends – or will she learn that juggling isn't one of her many talents?
You Can't Spell America Without Me: The Really Tremendous Inside Story of My Fantastic First Year as President Donald J. Trump (A So-Called Parody)
by Alec Baldwin Kurt Andersen'Hilarious, unbelievable' - The Sunday Times Books of the Year**As featured on BBC Newsnight**The blisteringly funny satirical account of Donald Trump’s first year as President, as imagined by Alec Baldwin and Kurt Andersen.'I have the best words, beautiful words, as everybody has been talking and talking about for a long time. Also? The best sentences and, what do you call them, paragraphs. My previous books were great and sold extremely, unbelievably well--even the ones by dishonest, disgusting so-called journalists. But those writers didn't understand Trump, because quite frankly they were major losers. People say if you want it done right you have to do it yourself, even when 'it' is a 'memoir.' So every word of this book was written by me, using a special advanced word processing system during the many, many nights I've been forced to stay alone in the White House--only me, just me, trust me, nobody helped. And it's all 100% true, so true--people are already saying it may be the truest book ever published. Enjoy.'You Can’t Spell America Without Me is presented by America’s foremost Trump scholar Kurt Andersen as well as America's foremost mediocre Trump impersonator, Alec Baldwin.
Gone Viking: The laugh out loud debut novel from the bestselling author of The Year of Living Danishly
by Helen RussellBe bold. Be brave. Be Viking...The uplifting, laugh out loud debut novel from the bestselling author of THE YEAR OF LIVING DANISHLYFrazzled mum Alice Ray likes to think she’s on top everything – she has FOUR bags-for-life in the boot of her car for heaven's sake. But after spectacularly embarrassing herself at work, she finally gives in to her sister’s pleas to take a much needed break.But this is not the luxury spa holiday Alice hoped for – instead, she finds herself in Denmark, in the middle of nowhere, on a ‘How to be a Viking’ getaway. Can the two sisters finally learn to get along or will learning to embrace their inner warrior just make them better at fighting?Two sisters. One Scandi holiday they'll never forget...GONE VIKING is a laugh out loud debut novel perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella's Surprise Me
Secrets for the Mad: Obsessions, Confessions and Life Lessons
by DodieBe inspired this New Year by a young woman's journey through life, love and lyricsWhen I feel like I'm going mad, I write. A lot of my worst fears have come true; fears that felt so big I could barely hold them in my head. I was convinced that when they happened, the world would end.But the world didn't end. In fact, it pushed on and demanded to keep spinning through all sorts of mayhem, and I got through it. And because I persisted, I learned lessons about how to be a stronger, kinder, better human – lessons you can only learn by going through these sorts of things. This is for the people with minds that just don't stop; for those who feel everything a thousand times more than others around them. Here are some words I wrote.
Homer's Odyssey: An Embiggened Simpsons Guide
by Four Finger DiscountRemember when The Simpsons was the funniest show on television?The Simpsons is the longest running comedy in history. Gracing our screens since 1989, with over 600 episodes, the show is a cultural phenomenon. Whilst it is still drawing huge ratings numbers, there is no argument that during the 90s the show was at its zenith. No other comedy has had as big an impact on society. The Simpsons has influenced the way we communicate with each other. Niche quotes and references have become the secret handshake of millions around the world. In the course of this book, we remember the iconic characters – Hank Scorpio and Lionel Hutz, Rex Banner and Frank Grimes - and we dissect seminal episodes such as Cape Feare, Marge Vs the Monorail and Who Shot Mr. Burns.From celebrity cameos to musical moments, from hidden jokes to insane trivia, this is the essential companion to golden age of The Simpsons. Homer’s Odyssey is a hilarious, intelligent and in-depth analysis of the greatest show on earth. So grab yourself a Flaming Moe, settle in to your groove on the couch, and enjoy our guide to your favourite yellow family.
The Amazing Hat Mystery: (Wodehouse Pick-Me-Up)
by P. G. Wodehouse'Wodehouse is a tonic' - New Yorker. A Wodehouse pick-me-up that'll lift your spirits, whatever your mood.Cheaper and more effective than Valium’.*Offers ‘relief from anxiety, raginess or an afternoon-long tendency towards the sour’.*‘Read when you’re well and when you’re poorly; when you’re travelling, and when you’re not; when you’re feeling clever, and when you’re feeling utterly dim.’*Whatever your mood, P. G. Wodehouse, widely acknowledged to be ‘the best English comic novelist of the century’*, is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Why? Because ‘Mr Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in.’*How? ‘You don’t analyse such sunlit perfection, you just bask in its warmth and splendour.’**Olivia Williams *Caitlin Moran *Lynne Truss *Sebastian Faulks *Evelyn Waugh *Stephen FryMeet the Young Men in Spats – all members of the Drones Club, all crossed in love and all busy betting their sometimes non-existent fortunes on unlikely outcomes – that's when they're not recovering from driving their sports cars through, rather than round, Marble Arch.These wonderful comic short stories are the essence of innocent fun. Here, you'll encounter some of Wodehouse's favourite characters – and, in 'The Amazing Hat Mystery', one of his favourite stories.Contents:- The Amazing Hat Mystery - Uncle Fred Flits By - Trouble Down at Tudsleigh
Goodbye to All Cats: (Wodehouse Pick-Me-Up) (Travelman Comedy Ser. #No. 2)
by P. G. Wodehouse'Wodehouse is a tonic' - New Yorker. A Wodehouse pick-me-up that'll lift your spirits, whatever your mood.Cheaper and more effective than Valium’.*Offers ‘relief from anxiety, raginess or an afternoon-long tendency towards the sour’.*‘Read when you’re well and when you’re poorly; when you’re travelling, and when you’re not; when you’re feeling clever, and when you’re feeling utterly dim.’*Whatever your mood, P. G. Wodehouse, widely acknowledged to be ‘the best English comic novelist of the century’*, is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Why? Because ‘Mr Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in.’*How? ‘You don’t analyse such sunlit perfection, you just bask in its warmth and splendour.’**Olivia Williams *Caitlin Moran *Lynne Truss *Sebastian Faulks *Evelyn Waugh *Stephen FryEver on the lookout for a quick buck, a solid gold fortune, or at least a plausible little scrounge, the irrepressible Ukridge gives con men a bad name. Looking like an animated blob of mustard in his bright yellow raincoat, he invests time, passion and energy (but seldom actual cash) in a series of increasingly bizarre money-making schemes. Shares in an accident syndicate? Easily arranged. Finance for a dog college? It's yours. And if you throw in some cats, flying unexpectedly from windows, and a young man trying ever-more-desperately to impress the family of his latest love, you get a medley of Wodehouse delights in which lunacy and comic exuberance reign supreme.Contents:- Goodbye to All Cats- Ukridge's Dog College- Ukridge's Accident Syndicate
Mulliner’s Buck-U-Uppo: (Wodehouse Pick-Me-Up)
by P. G. Wodehouse'Wodehouse is a tonic' - New Yorker. A Wodehouse pick-me-up that'll lift your spirits, whatever your mood.‘Cheaper and more effective than Valium’.*Offers ‘relief from anxiety, raginess or an afternoon-long tendency towards the sour’.*‘Read when you’re well and when you’re poorly; when you’re travelling, and when you’re not; when you’re feeling clever, and when you’re feeling utterly dim.’*Whatever your mood, P. G. Wodehouse, widely acknowledged to be ‘the best English comic novelist of the century’*, is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Why? Because ‘Mr Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in.’*How? ‘You don’t analyse such sunlit perfection, you just bask in its warmth and splendour.’**Olivia Williams *Caitlin Moran *Lynne Truss *Sebastian Faulks *Evelyn Waugh *Stephen FryIn the Angler's Rest, drinking hot scotch and lemon, sits one of Wodehouse's greatest raconteurs. Mr Mulliner, his vivid imagination lubricated by Miss Postlethwaite the barmaid, has fabulous stories to tell of the extraordinary behaviour of his far-flung family: there’s Cyril, the timid interior designer, who finds himself drunkenly playing 'this little piggy' with his beloved's formidable and angry mother's toes - how can that possibly end well?! And then there's Wilfred, who lights on the formula for Buck-U-Uppo, a tonic given to elephants to enable them to face tigers with the necessary nonchalance… Add one of the best Jeeves and Wooster stories and you’ve got a medley of Wodehouse delights in which lunacy and comic exuberance reign supreme.Contents:- Mulliner’s Buck-u-uppo - The Spot of Art- Strychnine in the Soup
The Smile that Wins: (Wodehouse Pick-Me-Up)
by P. G. Wodehouse'Wodehouse is a tonic' - New Yorker. A Wodehouse pick-me-up that'll lift your spirits, whatever your mood.‘Cheaper and more effective than Valium’.*Offers ‘relief from anxiety, raginess or an afternoon-long tendency towards the sour’.*‘Read when you’re well and when you’re poorly; when you’re travelling, and when you’re not; when you’re feeling clever, and when you’re feeling utterly dim.’*Whatever your mood, P. G. Wodehouse, widely acknowledged to be ‘the best English comic novelist of the century’*, is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Why? Because ‘Mr Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in.’*How? ‘You don’t analyse such sunlit perfection, you just bask in its warmth and splendour.’**Olivia Williams *Caitlin Moran *Lynne Truss *Sebastian Faulks *Evelyn Waugh *Stephen FryThis collection contains two of the best Jeeves stories, in which the gentleman’s gentleman endeavours to smooth over Bertie Wooster’s relentless haplessness. Add in the story of a private detective who can make the guilty confess simply by smiling at them, told by one of Wodehouse’s greatest raconteurs, and you’ve got an assortment of Wodehouse delights in which lunacy and comic exuberance reign supreme.Contents:- The Smile that Wins- Jeeves and the Song of Songs- The Great Sermon Handicap
The Book of the Year
by No Such Thing As A FishIn a year when much of the news was believable but fake, comes a book packed with stories that are unbelievable but true. The Book of the Year is a hilarious guide to 2017’s most extraordinary events, unearthed by the creators of the award-winning hit comedy podcast No Such Thing As A Fish. Each week, over a million people tune in to find out what bizarre and astonishing facts Dan, James, Anna and Andy have found out over the previous seven days. Now the gang have turned their attention to the news of the past twelve months. You’ll discover the curious details behind the main headlines – how Donald Trump slept on the 66th floor of a 58-storey building, what effect Brexit had on Coco Pops, and why China’s president can’t stand Winnie the Pooh – as well as hundreds of stories you may have missed entirely, like the news that:- Qatar built a refugee camp for camels.- The world’s first avocado restaurant ran out of avocados on its first day.- The victim of Britain’s first ever shark attack ended up with a cut thumb. From strange inventions to baffling elections, via a surprising amount of sausage news, The Book of the Year is an eye-opening tour of the incredible year you didn’t know you’d lived through.
The Candies Save Christmas (The\candies Ser.)
by James PattersonNo sugar, no fat.C'mon, take a look!The best Candies ever... Candies in a book!Treat yourself to the sweetest story you'll read this holiday! The Candies save Christmas when they rescue the loneliest, scraggliest little tree from the lot – in a happy ending children will beg to read again and again!Merry Christmas to allBig, medium, and small!
The Little Book of Mr & Mrs Questions: The Ultimate Relationship Test
by Pop PressThe perfect hen and stag do quiz, and an essential gift for newlyweds.What’s the first thing she does in the morning?Who gets the last word in an argument?Was it love at first sight?How well do you really know your other half?This playful quiz book is designed for hen dos and bachelorette parties but also works as a hilarious one-on-one challenge for couples to test how well they really know each other. Also includes instructions on how to play and results section, plus other fun, easy game inspiration based on the most popular hen/bachelorette games played around the world.